Most Recent Articles
Yes Virginia, journalism still exists
by Stan Zoller, MJE
More than a few years ago, I saw a sign on a colleague’s desk that read: “Tact: Being able to tell someone where to go in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip.”
Heeding that advice, I’ve become a hell of a travel agent.
Case in point. I was recently chatting with an acquaintance who wanted to know if I was still teaching journalism.
Of course, I said.
Read MoreSilently, heavily, even if optional, prior review and restraint contribute to a crumbling democracy
by Lindsay Coppens The Harbinger adviser, Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough, Mass.
A few weeks ago there was widespread reaction when news broke that the National Archives in Washington D.C. had blurred anti-Trump protest signs in a photograph from the 2017 Women’s March.
Yesterday, The Washington Post reported a similar mural-sized image had been removed from a Library of Congress exhibit days before the exhibit opened last year.
According to a Jan. 17 Post article, a National Archives spokesperson said they blurred critical references to the president’s name “so as not to engage in current political controversy.” A later statement from the National Archives acknowledged “they were wrong to alter the image.”
Read MoreBuilding on Student Press Freedom Day
A time for reflection on and commitment to journalistically responsible student media
Jan. 29, Student Press Freedom Day, is a good time to reflect on the importance of a unfettered student media, especially given the country’s claimed mistrust of and attacks on the media.
Commit to informing your various communities now, and throughout the next several months, about why they should support student journalists and learn ways to evaluate information from any source.
Read MoreUse real situations to teach law and ethics
by Candace Bowen, MJE
Teaching student journalists about legal and ethical issues can be a challenge. Some of my pre-service teachers at Kent State always want student groups to research different law cases and then present their findings to the class, possibility re-enact the trial. Others want teacher lectures, a process that takes at least several days.
Neither work all that well. The former often pays little attention to what the decision means to student media now. (Sure, they can explain about wearing the armbands . . . , but how does that even relate to student media.) Besides, they’re not always very accurate dealing with legal research. And the latter can be pretty darned boring, even with the liveliest presentation.
Read MoreConversations at the Schoolhouse Gate
Episode 9: Photojournalism during school
The latest episode of the SPRC podcast Conversations at the Schoolhouse Gate focuses on setting the scene and then interviewing students and their adviser at Palo Alto High School.
Students dealt with authorities trying to block them from taking photos when a police officer was injured on campus.
You can listen directly from the website here or — better yet — subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. This would be a great one to share with your staffs, also.
Student journalists at Palo Alto High School illustrate the tension between press freedom, public safety and ethics during a crisis at their school
In this episode, Menlo School adviser Tripp Robbins asks student journalists what they would do during a rumor-filled crisis at school and then interviews students at Palo Alto High School in California who actually dealt with one.
Students and their adviser, Paul Kandell, talk about the challenges of shooting photos of breaking news and lessons they learned.
If you are a student or a student media adviser with a story about scholastic press freedom, we want to hear from you.
You can reach us at sprc@jea.org with the subject line “Podcast” or tweet us at @jeapressrights. So you don’t miss out on future episodes, please subscribe to this podcast through any of the many podcast applications available for your computer or phone.
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